Posted
by
timothyon Monday April 09, 2012 @02:04AM
from the do-these-rays-make-my-tumor-fluoresce? dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A new imaging technique combines light and sound to create detailed, color pictures of tumors deep inside the body. It's hoped the technology, called photoacoustic tomography, will help doctors diagnose cancer earlier than is now possible and to more precisely monitor the effects of cancer treatment — all without the radiation involved in X-rays and CT scans or the expense of MRIs. By combining sounds and light, the technology can penetrate the body's tissues to visualize tumors at depths never before possible."

Lots of sizzle. Hopefully it will work well with few artifacts and be available for a low price that enables monthly scans of cancer treatments, perhaps computer generated measures of trackable tumors to show shrinkage and necrotic tissue.